Hispanic couple reaches plea deal after her botched gender reveal sparked the El Dorado fire, which in September 2020 burned nearly 23,000 acres in San Bernardino County.
Refugio Manuel Jiménez Jr. and Angelina Renee Jiménez They must cover prison time, community service and pay approximately $1.8 million in restitution following the plea agreement.
The El Dorado Fire which erupted in the Yucaipa area in the fall of 2020destroyed about 20 structures and caused the death of a firefighter.
The investigations determined that The flames started on September 5when the couple Refugio and Angelina detonated a smoke bomb as part of a gender reveal ceremony.
When the bomb was detonated, accidentally lit up the grass near El Dorado Ranch Park in Yucaipa.
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The couple tried to put out the fire with bottled water and called 911 for help. However, due to the conditions of dry land, high temperatures and inaccessible terrain, The flames spread quickly and the fire took more than two months to put out..
El Dorado Fire was one of thousands of wildfires that hit California that year in a season of unprecedented conflagrations.
On September 17, firefighter Charles Morton, a member with 18 years of experience, died when flames invaded a remote area.
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When the couple Refugio and Angelina were initially charged in 2021, He faced about 30 felony charges involving 22 victims.including people who were injured by the fire or who lost property to the flames.
Hispanics may have faced a maximum of almost two decades in prison in case they had been declared for each of the charges that were filed against them.
This Friday, February 9, the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office announced that an agreement had been reached with the Hispanic couple.
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Manuel Jiménez Jr. Shelter pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and two counts of recklessly causing a fire in an inhabited structure.
The Hispanic man was sentenced to two years of probation for a felony, 365 days in San Bernardino County Jail and 200 hours of community service. His sentence begins on February 23.
Angelina Renee Jiménez pleaded guilty to three misdemeanors for recklessly starting a fire on another person’s property. The Hispanic woman was sentenced to one year of summary probation and 400 hours of community service.
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The couple will also have to pay the victims a restitution of $1,789,972 dollars.
In a statement, San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson said resolving the case It was never going to represent a victory..
“The reckless conduct of the defendants had a tremendous impact on the earthproperty, emergency response resources, the displacement of entire communities and had the tragic death of Forest Service firefighter Charles Morton,” Anderson said.
“These factors were given extraordinary consideration at every step of the investigationthe Grand Jury process and judicial procedures,” he added.
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Prosecutor Anderson mentioned that the resolution It was obtained after almost four years of research and litigation, while seeking victims’ input on a restitution agreement and the most just and appropriate punitive action.
“To the victims who lost so much, including their homes with valuables and memories, We understand that they are intangible things that can never be replaced. Our hope with this resolution is that it closes a painful chapter in their lives, and restitution provides a measure of help to make them whole again,” he added.
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